Worry over how driver alarm will sound alert

The problem with the new Big Brother of the automotive world – the Facelab computer system that monitors driver fatigue – is that its Australian developers are not sure bells and whistles are the way to go as a wake-up call.

Worry over how driver alarm will sound alert

21 August 2002Joshua Dowling

The problem with the new Big Brother of the automotive world – the Facelab computer system that monitors driver fatigue – is that its Australian developers are not sure bells and whistles are the way to go as a wake-up call.

Vibrating seats or flashing lights are options, but experts don't want to startle drowsy drivers. It is more likely to be similar to a "fuel gauge": when it reads empty, so is the driver's attention level.

Knowing that the warning system was still to be finalised, Drive took the Facelab's prototype vehicle for a drive around Canberra this week. The test failed not through any fault with the system, but because we weren't tired enough.

Still, there was no doubting the intentions of the system, which measures fatigue through blink behaviour and facial expressions.

Using video camera lenses similar to those used in a Sony Handycam, the on-board computer created a three-dimensional "map" of the driver's face.

A large computer screen showed what the Facelab system could see. In an ordinary car, however, the driver will hardly know Big Brother is there, since he will take the form of tiny lenses hidden in the instrument panel. The driver warning methods will be up to the car makers.

The technology, which won a Eureka Prize for science and innovation this week, is expected to be available in luxury cars within five years. More affordable models should have it soon after.

Developed by Alex Zelinsky, a professor at the Australian National University, the Facelab system costs $US40,000 ($73,300) today but will be "the price of a CD player" by the time it hits the road.

In solving one problem, though, the developers might have created another. Experts around the world are trying to find a way to ensure that drivers do not use the system as an "alarm clock".

"This is merely a warning system; it's still up to the driver to take a break," said Dr Zelinsky, who has set up a company called Seeing Machines to develop and export the technology. "There is some concern a minority of drivers may use it as an alarm clock and, if they have an accident, blame the equipment."

However, the system is so accurate that, if the last 20 seconds before an accident were recorded, it could identify not only blink and gaze behaviour but exactly where the driver was looking – the speedometer, mirror or radio, for instance – and if the driver appeared to be affected by drugs or alcohol.